Adjustable handle for sliding sash



June 2, 1970 H. M. RIEGELMAN 3,514,904

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE FOR SLIDING SASH Filed March 28, 1968 r13 50 I an? QT I I 43 /35 i 5 w M 4 J0 18a 26 42a 4 L 324.} 2g

46 14 36 M v 4 I f 26 Z i m In 42 36 /3P4 2 k l p INVENTOR.

0 34 46 -32 an; /h,ee Mfleuznnu BY [a224 United States Patent O 3,514,904 ADJUSTABLE HANDLE FOR SLIDING SASH Harry M. Riegelman, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Ador Corporation, Fullerton, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Mar. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 716,782 Int. Cl. Eb 1/00 US. Cl. 49-460 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spring-biased, vertically adjustable handle including a camming surface adapted to cooperate with a stile flange so that the handle can be-snapped into its mounted position upon the stileby rotating the handle. over the stile extrusion in such a manner as to bring the camming surface into interlocking engagement with the flange.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to sliding sash members, and more particularly to a new and improved adjustable handle for sliding sash members suchas doors, windows, closets and the like.

It is common practice in the field of building construction to provide sliding sash members withconven- .iently located handles so that an operator can readily control the position and movement of the sash. Preferably, such a handle is of simpleconstruction, relatively economical to fabricate and easily mounted on one of the stiles of the sash. In addition, the vertical position of the handle alongthe stile should be readily adjustable after installation to accommodate operators of different height.

Unfortunately, sash handles heretofore available have generally not embodied all of the aforedescribed desirable features. In thisconnection, ease of installation of the handle upon thesash stile has frequently posed some problems with regard to convenience, since many handles are designed so that they can be installed upon the stile only prior to assembly of the sash frame, as opposed to installation after the completed sash has beeninstalled in the field. In addition, many handles haveproven to be relatively complex, cumbersome, difficult to adjust, or

relatively expensive to fabricate.

The present invention obviates the foregoing difliculties by providing a new and improved-adjustable handle vfor a sliding sash, the handle being characterized by relatively simple and inexpensive construction, high, reliability, and ease of installationand-adjustment.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION: I Briefly, andin general'terms, the present invention provides a new and improved verticallyadjustable handle 3,514,904 Patented June 2, 1970 position. In this regard, the handle can be moved to new positions simply by sliding the handle along the stile.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing of an illustrative embodiment thereof, and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational perspective view of a pair of sliding closet doors embodying a new and improved adjustable handle, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view, of the. area 2 in FIG. 1, and illustrates the cooperation between the handle of the present invention and the stile of the sash frame;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View, taken substantially along the line s 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating different positions of the handle, in solid and phantom lines, duringthe procedure for mounting the handle upon a stile; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG.

:1 thereof, there is shown a casing 10 installed in an appropriate opening in a wall 12 in the usual manner employed in the construction art.

The casing 10 is preferably fabricated from extruded aluminum frame members which are suitably formed to provide cooperating flanges, ridges and channels for engaging and accommodating the sashes of a pair of sliding closet doors 14, 16. Of course, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the construction is not limited to sliding closet doors, but is equally applicable to all openings which utilize a sliding closure member in a casing or equivalent framework. For purposes of description, however, the construction of the present invention is depicted in the form of a sliding closet door. I The sliding closet door 16 has a sash frame which is also preferably fabricated from extruded aluminum frame members. These frame members include left and right stile members 18, 20 and upper and lower rail members 22, 24, respectively. The sash frame of the door 16 mounts a panel 26 of any appropriate material suchas particle board, glass, wood, metal, a combinationthereof, and the like, by means of a frictional retaining strip 28-captured within each stile (FIGS. 2-5).

of relatively simple construction embodying combined camming and interlocking means adapted to cooperate with a stile so that the. handle .can be permanently mounted by snapping the handle into interlocking engagement with the stile. i

By way of example, in a presently preferredembodi-g- Both sliding doors -14, 16 are also provided with a new and improved, adjustable handle 30 in accordance with 'the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 25, the structure and operation of the handle 30 will become apparent. In this regard, the handle 30 is preferably'fabricated as an extrusion of an appropriate metal, such as aluminum and the like.

The handle 30 includes a gripping portion 32 and an integral mounting portion 34, the mounting portion being supported in sliding engagement with thestile .18 of the closet door 16.

The gripping portion 32 of the handle 30 is preferably fluted, as at 32a, to facilitate more positive gripping by the fingers of an operator using the handle. In addition, the gripping portion 32 extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the panel 26, with the handle 30 installed, so that the gripping portion is readily accessible to the operator.

The mounting portion 34 is shaped to define a cavity.

36, and further includes structure defining a retaining groove 38, a cam shoulder 40 and a laterally extending leg 42. The mounting portion 34 of the handle 30 cooperates with appropriate mounting structure of the stile 18, including a stile flange 44 projecting from a substantially planar stile face 18a.

The flange 44 is substantially perpendicular to the face 18a and extends substantially the entire length of the stile 18. A laterally directed rib 46 projects from the end of the flange 44 remote from the face 18a, the rib 46 extending essentially parallel to the face 18:: and for substantially the entire length of the flange 44.

The cam shoulder 40 of the handle 30 is provided with a beveled face 40a to enable the shoulder 40 to be wedged over the rib 46 and into interlocking engagement with the flange 44 behind the rib, thus mounting the handle upon the stile 18, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In order to retain the handle 30 upon the stile 18 with a minimum of rocking action, yet provide suflicient frictional force to hold any adjusted position of the handle, a spring clip 48 is captured within the retaining groove 48 of the handle, and the clip is adapted to engage a seating groove 50 of the stile 18 when the handle is mounted; see FIGS. 3 and 5. In this connection, the seating groove 50 runs substantially the entire length of the stile 18 to facilitate sliding of the handle 30 along the length of the stile.

As best observed in FIG. 5, the spring clip 48 is captured within the retaining groove 38 of the handle 30 by staking the handle adjacent the groove, as at 52, after inserting the clip into the retaining groove.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, the manner in which the handle 30 is mounted upon the stile 18 is more specifically pointed out. In this regard, mounting of the handle 30 upon the stile 18 can be easily and rapidly accomplished after the sash frame has been completely assembled.

Initially, the handle 30 is placed upon the stile with the beveled face 40a of the cam shoulder 40 abutting the rib 46, as shown in solid lines. The leg 42 is then brought into contact with the face 18a of the stile :18, as

shown in phantom lines, and the shoulder 40 is wedged 18a of the stile 18.

The characteristics of the spring clip 48 are selected so that the frictional force between the clip and the seating groove 50 of the stile 18 is sufliciently small as to enable relatively easy sliding movement of the handle 30 along the stile during height adjustments, yet sufliciently large so that the handle will always remain in its last' adjusted position without sliding downward under its own weight.

It will be apparent that the handle 30 is of extremely simple and economical construction, since it can be rather easily extruded from relatively low cost material. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the handle can be quickly, easily and reliably mounted upon the stile 18 of the door 16, after the door has been set up in the field, rather than requiring mounting prior to assembly of the sash frame of the door. In addition, the handle 30 of the present invention is quickly and easily adjusted over a wide range of vertical positions along the stile 18.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, while a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

'4 .What is claimed is:

1. In combination: 7 a sash stile having a flange projecting outwardly from said stile, said flange having a rib at the end of said flange remote from said stile, said rib projecting laterally *of said flange; handle, said handle having a mounting portion defining a cavity into which said flange and said rib extend, with a preformed beveled cam shoulder on one side of said cavity adapted to interlock in a substantially non-distorting manner with said flange and i said rib, wherein said flange extends substantially the entire length of said stile; and said rib extending substantially the entire length of said flange. I In combination: sash stile having a flange projecting outwardly from said stile, said flange having a rib at the end of said flange remote from said stile, said rib projecting laterally of said flange; V a handle, said handle having a mounting portion defining a cavity into which said flange and said rib extend, with a beveled cam shoulder on one side of said cavity adapted to interlock with said flange and said rib; a seating groove defined in one surface of said flange;

a retaining groove defined in the side of said cavity opposite said one side where said beveled cam shoulder is located; and resilient spring clip member extending between said seating groove and said retaining groove.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2, and further including:

an integral leg extending from said mounting portion in engagement with said stile. In combination: sash stile having a substantially flat face and an integral flange projecting from said face substantially perpendicular thereto, said flange extending substantially the entire length of said stile with a rib at the end of said flange remote from said face, said rib projecting laterally of said flange and extending substantially the entire length of said flange; a seating groove defined in one surface of said flange; a handle having a gripping portion and a mounting portion, said mounting portion defining a cavity into which said flange and said rib extend, with a beveled cam shoulder on one side of said cavity adapted to interlock with said'flange and said rib; a retaining groove defined in the side of said cavity opposite said one side where said beveled cam shoulder is located; and

a resilient spring clip member captured within said retaining groove and extending between said seating groove and said retaining groove.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4, and further including: w an integral leg extending from said mounting portion into engagement with said face of said stile.

v I I References Cited v .UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,078,524

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner Y P.VC.KANNAN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

